The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

Qld beefs up security after Canada attack

Security will be beefed up around Queensland government buildings and high-ranking officials after a fatal shooting attack near the Canadian parliament.

"Our world is getting smaller every day and certainly these events to have a knock-on effect right across the western world," Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.

"I've made an offer to the parliamentary officials to increase the security at parliament house when it's sitting and to provide further coverage through patrols when parliament is in its normal arrangements."

A gunman was shot dead after killing a soldier at an Ottawa war memorial and attempting to storm the halls of parliament.

The security upgrade in Queensland also follows the recent upgrade to the national terror threat level in September.

Mr Stewart said Premier Campbell Newman was "comfortable" with the new measures but reiterated that authorities were not aware of any specific threat.

"I think its a reasonable and responsible step to take when we see the type of events that can occur around the world."